BRANDY MICKENS

Director, Fundraising and Marketing

Brandy is a respected leader in the financial services industry and community. After graduating from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, she began her career in the financial industry.  During that time, she helped develop the Retirement Benefits Group in Texas. The group focused on the financial needs of educators and ascended to the #1 RBG Branch within Equitable Advisors. Additionally, within her first two years, she was named the Dallas RBG Associate of the Year and received the Fast Start Award. She went on to build a personal practice of over 2,000 clients, led the partnership with one of the largest school districts in the state, and closed the largest 457 application case in Texas history.

In 2014, she decided to pursue leadership and become a District Manager.  She wanted to positively impact the lives of others the same way her life had been impacted by her own career. She coached and developed a team of successful advisors who were able to help people reach their financial goals. She was also a leader across the company. She led nationally by achieving the #2 TSM Development Award in Hiring and Development in 2015, maintaining high new advisor development, being selected as an Emerging Leader 2016-2018, chosen to speak for several company and industry conferences, and was chosen to lead as a member of the Diversity Field Advisory council. Most importantly, she’s had the pleasure of mentoring many advisors on her team, and many advisors across the company. Brandy’s success and leadership throughout her career led her to be appointed Executive Vice President over Equitable Advisors Mid-America Branch in 2020. She and her business partner, Gregg LaSpisa, are responsible for overseeing offices in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.

Personally, Brandy has always been involved in her community. She is a mentor, an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and served as the Development Chair for the SMU Black Alumni Association, where she was awarded the History Makers Award. Additionally, her faith is the cornerstone of her life. She is married, and they have a beautiful and intelligent 4-year old daughter, and a fun-loving pup. She and her family reside in the Cleveland, Ohio area.